The record debuted on the BILLBOARD TOP 200 Chart at #73 with approximately 6,700 units sold. To compare, the band’s prior release “Ironbound” sold roughly 4,500 copies first week and debuted at #192 making “The Electric Age” the highest charting first week album since their 1994 record “W.F.O.”

“The Electric Age picks up where Ironbound left off a couple years back, maintaining the speed and ferocity of that release while throwing in some even more brutal riffs for good measure.” – Outburn Magazine

“Containing more hooks than the average Lamb of God record, this Age is one we wouldn’t mind living in.” – Revolver Magazine

“Sixteen albums in, these dudes are not only still fired up; they’re practicing their craft at the peak of their skills, with no signs of slowing down.” – Decibel Magazine

OVERKILL has revealed part one of a two part series giving fans a behind the scenes look into their brand new video for “Electric Rattlesnake.” Show in legendary Asbury Park, NJ. Click HERE to view the video.

The band kicked off the “ELECTRIC AGE TOUR” this weekend as well. Supporting will be GOD FORBID, DIAMOND PLATE and SUDIKARA. Dates will stretch coast to coast and run through April and May, click HERE for up to date ticket information.

The single comes from their newest record “The Electric Age” which came out last month. If you haven’t had a chance to pick it up, the Amazon MP3 store is has it available for $6.99.

“Young bands coming out today that are emulating the ’80s thrash scene should certainly be taking notes from the masters of the genre like Overkill on what it takes to deliver some of the best work of your career over 30 years into it.” – Popblerd.com

“Sixteen albums in, these dudes are not only still fired up; they’re practicing their craft at the peak of their skills, with no signs of slowing down.” – Decibel

The new OVERKILL record “The Electric Age” debuted on the BILLBOARD TOP 200 Chart at #73 with approximately 6,700 units sold. To compare, the band’s last release “Ironbound” sold roughly 4,500 copies first week and debuted at #192 making “The Electric Age” the highest charting first week album since their 1994 record “W.F.O.”

OVERKILL have debuted a brand new video for their hit single “Electric Rattlesnake” today. Directed by veteran Kevin J. Custer, the video is the first we’ve seen since the band released the “Bring Me The Night” video in 2010.

“Damn, this one BITES hard! Kevin Custer did it again! So plug us in yeah, set us free, this is a thrashing vid the way it’s supposed to be! Here we go kids ELECTRIC RATTLESNAKE!“ says front man Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth.

The new OVERKILL record “The Electric Age” has debuted on the BILLBOARD TOP 200 Chart at #73 with approximately 6,700 units sold. To compare, the band’s last release “Ironbound” sold roughly 4,500 copies first week and debuted at #192 making “The Electric Age” the highest charting first week album since their 1994 record “W.F.O.”

“Young bands coming out today that are emulating the ’80s thrash scene should certainly be taking notes from the masters of the genre like Overkill on what it takes to deliver some of the best work of your career over 30 years into it.” – Popblerd.com

“Sixteen albums in, these dudes are not only still fired up; they’re practicing their craft at the peak of their skills, with no signs of slowing down.” – Decibel

In support, the band will head out on the “ELECTRIC AGE TOUR.” Supporting will be GOD FORBID, DIAMOND PLATE and SUDIKARA. Dates will stretch coast to coast and run through April and May, click HERE for up to date ticket information.

The musicians in Overkill are angry….. METAL Thrashin’ Angry. At least that is what
I have gathered from listening to Overkill’s newest release, The Electric Age. What is stoking the band’s fire? I don’t know. What I do know is, the music on The ElectricAge is easily some of the best that Overkill has ever recorded.

From the thundering bass of D.D. Verni on the opening cut, “Come and Get It”, to the final notes of “Good Night”,Overkill have recorded what I consider, one of the best thrash metal albums of the last decade.

Dave Linsk has delivered some of the best guitar work of his career. From the high-speed riffs of “Come and Get It” to the semi slower paced, Testament like tune “Black Daze”, The Electric Age is packed full killer riffs that classic thrash fans are going to love. On the album closer Good Night, Linsk sounds as if he is channeling Dave Mustaine. Awesome! The furious growls and vocals of Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth have never sounded better.

There is no need to give you a song by song breakdown. You are going to want to hear all of the songs on this CD! Some of my personal favorites are “Electric Rattlesnake”, “Wish You Were Dead” “Black Daze” and “Drop the Hammer Down”

In my opinion, Overkill has recorded an album that not surpasses their previous effort, Ironbound, but also surpasses the recent offerings from Metallica, and Megadeth.

In the illustrious words of Mr. Ellsworth, The Electric Age is “More than you can take, make no mistake”. Don’t miss out on one of the best metal albums of 2012 so far! To my ears, Overkill has recorded a true thrashterpeace with The Electric Age. I can’t stop listening to this!

Thrash Metal Brilliance? Metal Album of 2012? Overkill has done it again with their new album, The Electric Age. The band has released their newest single ‘Wish You Were Dead’. Check out the Lyric video for the track below!

OVERKILL has released another single called “Wish You Were Dead” today in anticipation of their new record “The Electric Age” coming out next week. Click the image above or click HERE to listen! The single is available on iTunes for preview or purchase HERE.

The band will release their 16th full length studio album “The Electric Age” next week on March 27, 2012. The record will be released in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records on March 30, 2012. You can now pre-order and preview the record on iTunes HERE.

In support, the band will head out on the “ELECTRIC AGE TOUR.” Supporting will be GOD FORBID, DIAMOND PLATE and SUDIKARA. Dates will stretch coast to coast and run through April and May, click HERE for up to date ticket information.

To celebrate their new release, OVERKILL will be doing an in-store signing session at New Jersey’s legendary Vintage Vinyl record store. The band will be signing copies on March 27th at 7PM. Arrive early to ensure your place in line! Visit www.vvinyl.com for more info.

OVERKILL has released the first single. “Electric Rattlesnake” off their upcoming record “The Electric Age!” Click HERE or click the artwork above. The single is now available on iTunes HERE. The band will release their 16th full length studio album on March 27, 2012. The record will be released in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records on March 30, 2012. You can now pre-order and preview the recrod on iTunes HERE.

OVERKILL traveled to Asbury Park, NJ this weekend to shoot a brand new music video for the above mentioned track locked away in the historic Paramount Theater. Snapshots from that shoot can be seen in the slideshow below.

The band also recently announced new details around their upcoming “ELECTRIC AGE TOUR.” Supporting will be GODFORBID, DIAMOND PLATE and SUDIKARA. Dates will stretch coast to coast and run through April and May, click HERE for up to date ticket information.

OVERKILL have released a second behind the scenes episode giving fans an inside look into the studio during the making of their new record “The Electric Age.” This new episode focuses on what mindset the band was in when they entered the studio and overall theme they wanted to capture. The band explains their theory on why they’ve been together so long and bassist DD Verni showcases how big of a NY Giant fan he really is. Click HERE or the images above to view the video.

OVERKILL will released their 16th full length studio album entitled “The Electric Age” on March 27, 2012. The record will be released in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records on March 30, 2012. You can now pre-order and preview the recrod on iTunes HERE.

The band recently announced new details around their upcoming “ELECTRIC AGE TOUR.” Supporting will be GOD FORBID, DIAMOND PLATE and SUDIKARA. Dates will stretch coast to coast and run through April and May, click HERE for up to date ticket information.

The band is also featured in the latest issue of Decibel Magazine, the band’s legendary record “Years Of Decay” has been inducted into the Decibel Magazine Hall Of Fame.

OVERKILL leaked the first behind the scenes episode a few weeks ago. The first episode outlines the recording process they used for their upcoming new record. Recorded at GEAR Studios, owned and operated by bassist D.D. Verni, the video outlines specific gear and techniques used and how it had shaped the bands raw unfiltered sound over the last few releases. View the video HERE.

OVERKILL have revealed a behind the scenes video that outlines the recording process they used for their upcoming new record “The Electric Age.”

Recorded at GEAR Studios, owned and operated by bassist D.D. Verni, the video outlines specific gear and techniques used and how it had shaped the bands raw unfiltered sound over the last few releases. View the video HERE.

OVERKILL will release “The Electric Age” due out on eOne Music March 27, 2012.

Legendary thrash band, OVERKILL have announced their next full length entitled “The Electric Age” due out on eOne MusicMarch 27, 2012. The record will be released in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records on March 30, 2012. The band will tour the US this spring on their very own KILLFEST 2this spring in support.

“The Electric Age” was recorded and mixed at Gain Studios in New Jersey, owned and operated by bassist D.D. Verni. This is the bands followup record to “Ironbound” released in 2010 which recieved much critical praise. Decibel Magazine went as far to add, “Call this thrash, or whatever: to us, it’s just metal. And damn good metal, at that.”

OVERKILL have announced a brand new batch of dates aptly dubbed “KILLFEST 2.” Supporting will be Belphegor, Aborted, Blackguard, System Divide and Diamond Plate.

The band is currently in the studio gearing up for their next un-titled release due out next year with a one off performance planned on the “70,000 Tons Of Metal Cruise.”

OVERKILL released “IRONBOUND” in 2010 which charted at 168 on the Billboard Top 200, the bands fastest selling record in 16 years. A video was also filmed a video for “Bring Me The Night” in Brooklyn, NY with director Kevin Custer (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, SUFFOCATION). View the video here.

Hard Rock Hideout’s Stone – Picking the “top ten list” of anything in life is not that easy. Choosing my Top Ten Albums Of 2010 proved to be more daunting than I had initially expected, with there being multiple dozens of excellent albums released this past year, spanning across each sub-genre of Metal, not to mention Hard Rock and Rock as well. I decided this year, to pick out only those ten albums that I can honestly say moved me… as a complete album of songs. I have neverlimited my ears, mind and soul to just Metal, anyone who knows me, understands this. Therefore, finding an album in my “top ten” that is not full-throttle, pedal to the Metal, shouldn’t come across as scandalous.

An album that makes my “top ten” list will move me emotionally, sending signals to my senses that either A: psyches-me-out of my Metal mind or B: makes me feel as though I’ve found a long lost friend, a friend I’ll now have for the rest of my Metal life. Of course quality musicianship, songwriting and overall production comes into play… only those three attributes will fall into place when an album is truly special to me.

Maybe you’ll enjoy, become slightly amused and or confused by my Top Ten Albums Of 2010. Either way, my intent is to showcase and appluad these albums and the bands that created them. Hopefully I peak your interest to buy an album or two from this list. These are the albums that will stand the test of my Metal time on Earth.

KATAKLYSM epitomizes the marriage of melodic and heavy… and succeeds so brilliantly in a Death Metal genre, a genre that has profoundly matured into mandatory importance in my Metal history book, many full moons ago. I’ll say this time and again, when Maurizio Iacono sings, I listen. Jean-Francois Dagenais on guitar is not just impressive, his playing is beyond that. If Death Metal needed “that band” to bridge the gap between the meat & potatoes and the progressive, then KATAKLYSM is that band. “Heaven’s Venom” is more than just another excellent Melodic Death Metal album, it is a collective “sound” and “vibe” that makes me realize that maybe “extreme” should be replaced with “pristine” when describing these ten songs.

On December 2, 2010, I posted a review on Heaven’s Venom, giving more Metal details as to why KATAKLYSM is sitting atop my tier of Metal legendary bands. Clicking the link above will take you there!

The “Classic” Krokus lineup returned in 2010 to bring their Hard Rockin’ brand back… to kick our asses! Metal be thy name, Krokus DID kick my ass with “Hoodoo” and all I can say is: “thank you sirs, may I have more?” A (gasp) fun album is “Hoodoo”, that gives a wink and a smile to the gloriously loud and colorful 80’s decade of Arena Rock and good times thrills. If the songs “Too Hot” and “Hoodoo Woman” doesn’t get your Hard Rock adrenaline flowing, then maybe you should consider living as a hermit in the forests of Maine.

On April 27, 2010, I reviewed Hoodoo and did not hold back my Hard Rockin’ affection for this timeless Hard Rockin’ band. Click on the link above to see it!

Jon Oliva is a man of music. He proves this on “Festival”, by connecting the Rock ‘N’ Roll dots, Jon Oliva has his Classic Rock influences of the Beatles and The Electric Light Orchestra coexisting with the Savatage blood that flows through his ultra-talented veins. Is “Festival” a Heavy Metal album? On the surface it is… only once you really listen to this album a few dozen times, you might very well agree with me that “Festival” is a celebration of Jon Oliva’s musical career. The dark themes and nightmarish lyrics behold a realism that I find stunning, making me hope and pray that Jon Oliva and his band will create a “Festival”… part 2.

On April 15, 2010, my review for “Festival” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Click on the link above to read all about it!

What Greg Hampton (founding member, lead guitarist & vocalist) created with his band The New Czars, is one of the finest blends of Rock Music styles my ears have heard in years. “Doomsday Revolution” takes a Modern Hard Rock lead, with Industrial and Funk experimentation weaved within it’s lustrous interior. Greg Hampton might very well be the “missing link” within a generation of Rock vocal legends such as Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan, David Coverdale and yes… Robert Plant. If that sounds too good to be true, then get yourself a copy of “Doomsday Revolution” and thank Stone for serving you right.

Back on September 8, 2010, I posted a detailed album review for Doomsday Revolution. You can click the link above if you want to read all about it!

“Nightmare” is the fifth studio album from A7X and very well should be anointed as their very best. Powerful, angry and raging is “God Hates Us”, while the album opener “Nightmare” speeds on with it’s relentless up-tempo that makes me feel like I belong in the pit, carrying on like a psyched-out Metalhead from 1989. Seriously, what A7X has accomplished with “Nightmare” is nothing short of a Metal miracle, with having to cope with the loss of Jimmy “The Reverend” Sullivan. I won’t hold back calling this “Nightmare” album the “Back In Black” or “Black Album” of A7X’s catalog.

On November 9, 2010, my review for “Nightmare” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Check it out by clicking the link below!

What’s this? A Hard Rock three piece? A Modern Hard Rock three piece? Can these guys play? Who invited them to the party? Stone will tell you right now… KOPEK is a three piece, they are a Hard Rock band and they bought the copyright for the word relevance. By the way, KOPEK will be invited to the party and they are bringing with them a case of Hard Rock whoop ass that will have you begging “them” for more. Guitarist and vocalist Daniel Jordan brings that “it” factor to the Hard Rock table, “it” being his charisma that resonates from each and every song I hear on “White Collar Lies”. Drummer Shane Cooney and bassist Brad Kinsella round out this Hard Rockin’ trio from Dublin, Ireland, making them a band I recommend to every breathing human being on Earth.

On June 28, 2010, I presented to the world, an album review for White Collar Lies. If you want to know more about this KOPEK album that you should really buy, then click the link above… it will serve you right!

This new DANZIG album could have easily been titled: “How Glenn Danzig Got His Groove Back”. “Deth Red Sabaoth” is a return to dark form for Glenn, with each song carrying it’s worthy weight of thump and stump heaviness. Dare I say once again… Old School? These flashbacks to the Heavy Metal glory years never hurt any band and DANZIG churns out the songs that I want to hear on a long, lost, dark nights cruise through the remote countryside. “Black Candy”, Deth Red Moon” and “Ju Ju Bone” are the three songs that stand-out among, well, 11 stand-out songs. Each time I listen to “Deth Red Sabaoth” I realize wholly, that Glenn Danzig is back… and that makes Stone feel very Metal comfy.

On July 22, 2010, my review for “Deth Red Sabaoth” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Check it out for yourself by clicking the link above!

An Udo-less Accept is hard to “accept”… unless you listen to “Blood Of The Nations”. Mark Tornillo made me a believer from the first note he bellows on “Beat The Bastards”, while not being an Udo clone, Mark just accomplished what always came natural to him… that’s to sing like an Old School Metal warrior! With a near perfect version of the original Accept lineup grinding out 14 songs, at the culmination of my first listen to this album I wanted MORE! This is an Accept album that solidifies this band’s Heavy Metal importance and existence of both past and present. “Blood Of The Nations” also reminds all of us aging Metalheads, that Old School Heavy Metal dreams really do come true.

On September 14, 2010, I posted a very psyched-out review for this Blood Of The Nations album. Check it out if you like, by clicking the link above!

#2 (Tie) EXODUS – EXHIBIT B: THE HUMAN CONDITION

Why have I made it a “tie” between EXODUS – Exhibit B: The Human Condition and OVERKILL –Ironbound? The answer is simple… Thrash Metal albums, from these two ultra-legends, sounding this damn outstanding, has fortunately collided with an uncanny equality. Choosing between these two albums as which is best, is liking choosing between two iced mugs of Blue Moon Ale. Pick ’em. Founding members Gary Holt (guitar) and Tom Hunting (drums) are the Metal backbone to Exodus being not just pioneers of Thrash Metal, Exodus is one of this genre’s true leaders in 2010. This album is as brutal as any that Exodus has released… and these guys sound tighter than ever!

As with Exodus, Overkill are pioneers of the Thrash Metal movement that has seen a resurgence of popularity that reminds me of the 80’s. “Ironbound” is full-blown and in-your-face Thrash Metal that glistens with Old School hunger and never relents with it’s crushing and force driven songs. Founding members Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (vocals) and D.D. Verni (bass) are living proof that they can create and play Thrash Metal for 30 years and counting, with different lineups, while never losing a touch of relevance. After three decades of albums, Overkill quite possibly made their verybest with “Ironbound.”

On March 8, 2010, I reviewed “Ironbound” on Hard Rock Hideout. Click the header link above read the complete details!

#1 SCORPIONS – STING IN THE TAIL

“Sting In The Tail” radiates every quality that I yearn for in choosing a #1 album: heaviness, hardness, melodic, memorable, emotional and Old School… all wrapped up into one celebratory goodbye after spanning nearly five decades of existence. This album dominated my Metal soul like none other in 2010, even the ballads “The Good Die Young” and “The Best Is Yet To Come” made an instant impact on me… and I never wave the flag for ballads that often. Klaus Meine sounds as incredible as ever on vocals, while this entire band plays with the fire of twenty year olds. “Sting In The Tail” was not a return to the glory days of 80’s Heavy Metal, instead, this album showcases just how electrifying the Scorpions still are after so many decades. The Scorpions go out proving to me, they never lost their edge. There will never be another band like the Scorpions.

Back on April 3, 2010, I posted a detailed album review on Sting In The Tail. Click the large header below, to read about how much I really dig this Scorpions album!

When you think of Thrash Metal legends, the first bands that come to mind are usually Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus and Anthrax. Old School Metal fans know… there is another extremely key player in this legendary mix of Thrash Metal originators and it is – Overkill. Going on three decades, with 15 studio albums, an EP, a covers album and 2 live albums under their legendary Thrash Metal belts, Overkill is as Metal potent as ever. Setting out to embark on their Spring North American Tour in support of their 15th studio album – “Ironbound”, original member and vocalist Bobby “The Blitz” Ellsworth cordially took the time recently to talk to Hard Rock Hideout. Here is what Bobby had to say:

HRH: What were the thoughts of Overkill going in to record Ironbound?

Bobby: There was a newer energy within the band, we came in right off the road to assemble Ironbound. The unseen hand or the x-factor was the energy we felt in the studio. It was business as usual, still we were feeling something special while recording Ironbound, this afforded us the luxury of coming together so quickly as musicians and finishing this album.

HRH: Ironbound is on the E1 Music label, are you committed to a defined number of albums with them?

Bobby: Yeah, 100 albums! (laughs)

HRH: (laughs) You know Bobby, at the rate Overkill has been going over the years, that is not far fetched!

Bobby: Two more records with E1 Music here, with Nuclear Blast for the rest of the world.

HRH: I actually feel Ironbound is one of the best Overkill albums ever.

Bobby: Thanks, that’s quite a compliment! After 15 albums and over 25 years of Overkill, we are concentrating on today and this Ironbound album and tour. The beauty of Overkill is you know what to expect, yet it is different with each album. Ironbound has teeth, energy and the x-factor, there’s turns at every angle. Ironbound is rooted in what Overkill has been doing since we first became a band and what we are doing today. This album gives you the best of both worlds.

HRH: Where can we catch Overkill on tour this Spring, any updates?

Bobby: We begin our tour on April 1st, in Philadelphia at The Trocadero and on May 1st in New York City, (Nokia Theater in Times Square), it finishes. Coming out to see us live is to really experience Overkill!

HRH: I honestly feel Ironbound is as complete and solid as any Overkill album, with lyrics that make you think. Is “Endless War” lyrically representing our current U.S. solider in battle?

Bobby: Not necessarily, I write abstractly. “Endless War” is a little bit more personal and abstract, yet it relates across the board. One man’s cross doesn’t outweigh another man’s cross. This song can apply to what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan and real life at home. I make comments socially and politically when I write. Ironbound screams louder in the dark, the angst and chaos is valid emotion on Ironbound. I have had over sixteen records to cleanse myself!

HRH: “The Goal Is Your Soul”, can the lyrical content here be representative of white collar crime on Wall Street?

Bobby: Not necessarily, it’s more of a comment on right wing and fanatic Christian and Muslim religions. Organized religion is dangerous, it creates an army in it’s own right. There is danger in the word organized. Organized religion is very follower based. You can also interpret it as the enemy is right here, every day with politics.

HRH: Overkill is arguably the most consistent Thrash Metal band in history, based on album releases and touring. Was an old school work ethic instilled in you at an early age?

Bobby: I think so, it’s my background as a person. DD, (bass guitarist and founding member), and I were raised as such, with a “you want then work for it” discipline. It’s the principals and values of Overkill from the very beginning that has led us here. Doing more and giving your all is the premise this band works on. We always tweak it up, year after year. Our strong work ethic, helps in getting us to go through the artistic torture of making albums for so long, being a band and touring.

HRH: Two words to throw at you, use a free style way to convey your thoughts about them please. Punk Rock.

Bobby: Unbridled energy. Punk Rock has always been the x-factor in Overkill. We started our band covering Punk Rock songs! The Dead Boys, Ramones and Sex Pistols are all influences. The Punk Rock influence is what gives Overkill that different angle that other bands don’t have.

HRH: From “Relix IV”, I love “Old School”, it has that Punk Rock sound and feel.

Bobby: It’s a great song, it’s been a live staple on our set list ever since we released Relix IV.

HRH: What peer band would Overkill take to battle with?

Bobby: There are plenty of us that are cut from the same cloth. Exodus. Overkill and Exodus hold a lot of the same principals. There’s still competition there, yet when we toured together it brought out the best in both bands on stage.

HRH: Are we experiencing a Thrash Metal revival or has Thrash Metal never gone away to begin with?

Bobby: It never went away! Overkill has been doing this straight since 1985. There is a resurgence in popularity with great young bands like Warbringer, Gamma Bomb and Bonded By Blood. Plus, Overkill is also recruiting younger fans with Ironbound in 2010.

HRH: Over the years, what moment truly defined Overkill as being resilient to outside forces?

Bobby: Overkill is special, we always have been able to put ourselves as people ahead of the band. I have known DD for thirty years, our friendship is amazing. In Overkill, “you” come first, not your writing. Overkill is a team, we are more so real about life, instead of business.

HRH: If you could have any famous musical guest on your next Overkill album, who would it be?

Bobby: I’d like to do a duet with Ronnie James Dio. That would be a lot of fun! Lemmy too, (Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead). Lemmy and I sang live together once onstage, it was a lot of fun.

HRH: “Coverkill” is a great tribute to many legendary bands and their songs. What are the chances of there ever being a Coverkill II?

Bobby: I’m not thinking in those terms now. There is a possibility, of course, that it could be done. Since Coverkill, we have covered some new and different songs, Eric Burdon and The Animals and Johnny Cash are just a couple of examples. Still, I think in terms of the day instead of the future, it’s more about the now.

HRH: “Promises” on “From The Underground And Below”, (1997 album), I really like. Is there another ballad in the future for Overkill?

Bobby: I don’t think so. This song was written due to the death of a very close friend. I was able to cleanse the soul through these lyrics. It was necessary for me to get rid of the sadness I was feeling because of this loss. It is real emotion that you hear on “Promises”, not contrived emotion. That song was not the norm for us, then again, it was not the norm for us to be in that situation to write that song either. It’s life, an opportunity to express that emotion I was feeling on a higher level. “Promises” is a testimonial to someone’s life is a way to explain it.

HRH: In your opinion, why does Europe have more and bigger Metal festivals than the U.S.?

Bobby: They can handle alcohol! Really, the idea of alcohol is part of someone’s life at a younger age in Europe, not so in America. Shit can happen in the U.S., one hundred thousand people will create assaults in the U.S., there’s nothing like that over in Europe. I was at a festival right here in New Jersey last year, there were people arrested for assaulting a police officer! That’s pretty bad when the police start getting assaulted at Rock festivals here. The festivals in Europe are well organized, big beer sponsors are needed and Europe has them. Insurance costs for festivals can dictate why the U.S. doesn’t go for them too.

HRH: What is your favorite Overkill album and why?

Bobby: Horrorscope from ’91. It’s the first album DD and I wrote together. I can’t look at Ironbound as being my favorite because it is new, I need to let it sit with me for about a year.

HRH: One of my favorite Overkill albums too, I love “Frankenstein”.

Bobby: Yeah, that’s a good one! DD has a running joke that Frankenstein is the best song I’ve ever sung on! (laughs)

HRH: (laughs)

HRH Note: “Frankenstein” is an instrumental.

HRH: Throughout the years, what tour sticks in your mind the most?

Bobby: Motorhead 1988 and 2007. Growing up a Motorheadbanger, the excitement to meet and tour with a band that I looked up to was incredible. We covered their songs in cover bands and now we’re on tour with Motorhead! In Europe, on the 2007 tour with Motorhead, Lemmy asked me to sing onstage with him! That was just a positive experience! Here we were in 2007, nineteen years after the first tour together and Motorhead is just as nice a group of guys as they were when we first met them.

HRH: Is The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame useful or useless?

Bobby: Useful, I was able to carve my name into the bathroom stall wall there with my pocket knife! (laughs)

HRH: (laughs)

Bobby: It’s very cool. There are different things in Rock and Roll to be recognized. It’s an avant-garde answer to what music was in the 1950’s. It’s Rock and Roll history and it’s a necessity to bring forth this history to the public.

OVERKILL – with 15 studio and a few live albums released by Overkill since their 1985 Feel The Fire debut, these Thrash Metal legends originating from New Jersey, have unleashed their newest Metal carnage among the masses… IRONBOUND. Released on February 9, 2010 on E1 Music, Ironbound could very well be Overkill’s finest album to date. Judging from the speed and thrashtastic riffage, leads and solo’s of Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer, frenetic drumming of Ron Lipnicki, empowering bass grooves from DD Verni and of course, the trademark, hardened and vicious vocals of Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, to walk away from Ironbound feeling Thrash fulfilled is a Metal understatement. The two opening songs – “The Green And Black” and “Ironbound” are how Thrash Metal albums are supposed to begin… like decisive missile strikes and extremely Metal monumental.

“Ironbound” just sounds as if DD and “Blitz” decided to not just remind the world they are Thrash Metal originators and icons, they have also pronounced and engraved their loyalty to a genre they helped create. “The Green And Black” offers such a diverse song structure, with it’s near epic length of over 8 minutes. “Endless War” capitalizes on the combination of lyrical imagery, (a soldiers dread, suffering and anguish of dying) and blazingly brilliant, Thrash musicianship. The sinister acoustic intro to “The Goal Is Your Soul”, only accentuates the impending Thrash heaviness that is to follow. This song’s message can/may be interpreted: reap what you sow by your actions/words and knowing one can lose their soul to damnation and the dark unknown, despite life’s blessings being fulfilled or not. This is Overkill’s reality check… as only they can deliver it.

“The Head And Heart” is emblematic of what Overkill’s Thrash Metal makeup is all about. A dark lined intro that submerges your ears into the Thrash assault of heavy and fast grooves with the punctuated vocals of “Blitz” that come across with hellish and angst ridden conviction. The more times I delve my senses into Ironbound, the more I become convinced of Overkill’s allegiance to the foundation of Thrash Metal. Overkill reaches into their underground roots if you will, which is conveyed by them with dominance in their playing, energy, spirit, sound and feel of Ironbound.

Metal truth be told, this is probably the first Overkill album ever, where I have been highly enticed by deciphering the lyrics! This is not to say Overkill never possessed smart, entertaining or attention grabbing lyrics in their past albums. Ironbound just carries with it, an increased intellectual approach to it’s lyrical messages, in my Metal opinion. DD and “Blitz” seemed to turn it up a notch with their lyrics and song writing and this entire Overkill unit has obviously approached this Ironbound album with a type of new found Thrash epiphany.

Lyrical meanings aside, Ironbound is equal to or more explosive, heavy, fast and mean as any Thrash album in Overkill’s iconic catalog. If Overkill were ever be remembered as Metal martyrs, they would be for the Thrash Metal cause they have valiantly forged, with blue collar blood, sweat and muscle for over 25 years. Overkill carrying and waving the flag of Thrash Metal, spanning across decades, is not something I or countless others can ignore. This Overkill lineup has cast their finest album together, Ironbound is a new Overkill Thrash Metal classic, proving once again, this band has not abandoned the Thrash Metal cause, their fans or themselves.

Rating: Out of 10

Track Listing:

01. The Green And Black
02. Ironbound
03. Bring Me The Night
04. The Goal Is Your Soul
05. Give A Little
06. Endless War
07. The Head And The Heart
08. In Vain
09. Killing For A Living
10. The SRC

Overkill is one of the few groups that helped create the sheer definition of thrash metal. Starting from 1985, this living legend has so far released fifteen studio albums, which easily places them among the most consistent and die-hard thrash bands in the entire history of the genre. This exclusive re-releases of Overkill’s albums – “Wrecking Everything”, “Killbox 13” and “ReliXIV” – bring back the best that thrash metal has to offer…

“Wrecking Everything”
Overkill’s second live album was released on June 18th, 2002. Recorded during the band’s performance at The Paramount in Asbury Park, New Jersey on March 22nd, 2002, this offering delivers over 70 minutes of pure thrash metal annihilation by the living legend of the genre. The 13 tracks included on the CD feature one of the most amazing productions in the history of live albums. The sound quality is easily comparable to studio albums, but the immerse amount of energy makes this release even better, reflecting the true nature of Overkill’s music. The track list has been prepared very carefully – none of the songs is repeated from the band’s first live effort, “Wrecking Your Neck” from 1995. Overkill made sure that the choice of material satisfies both new and old fans. The newer albums (“Bloodletting”, “Necroshine”, “From The Underground and Below”, “The Killing Kind”) are represented by such tracks as “Thunderhead”, “Necroshine”, “It Lives” and “Battle”, while the pre-1990’s Overkill classics include “E.vil N.ever D.ies”, “The Years of Decay”, “Shred”, “Deny The Cross” and the all-time fan favorite – “Overkill” from the band’s debut album. Complete with top notch production and a perfectly balanced content, “Wrecking Everything” can easily be put right next to Judas Priest, Slayer and Motörhead in the list of amazing live albums. A true feast for any fan of thrash metal!

“Killbox 13”
Overkill’s thirteenth studio effort, was released on March 25th, 2003. The album was considered by many fans the most thrash oriented offering since “Horrorscope”. Consisting of 10 merciless tracks, “Killbox 13” starts off with a typical Overkill opener – the fast and furious “Devil By The Tail”. The thrash metal cascade is continued with “Struck Down” and “I Rise”, both of which sounding like taken from “The Years of Decay” album. The band introduces some groove-thrash patterns in such songs as “The One” and “No Lights”, while “Crystal Clear” stands out as a musical mixture between Machine Head and Crowbar. “Until I Die” starts off like a ballad, only to crush the listener near the third minute with a powerful thrash metal riff. Bobby “Blitz” as always delivers great vocals throughout the entire album, showing his best at “Damned” with some impressive screaming patterns. The lyrics on “Killbox 13” form a semi-concept, revolving around the Seven Deadly Sins. But it’s up to the listener to determine which song covers which sin… With “Killbox 13” Overkill managed to find a perfect compromise between their “new” style of playing and the classic material from the 1980’s. It is truly one of their finest efforts and one of the most enjoyable thrash albums on the modern metal scene.

“ReliXIV”
Overkill’s fourteenth studio effort released on March 22nd, 2005. With “ReliXIV” the band went further in the direction taken on their previous offering, in the same time looking back at some of the ideas found on their sixth LP – “I Hear Black”. The result was quite controversial, but worked out pretty good for the band. The ten tracks included on the album showcased an impressive songwriting diversity. We have modern thrash anthems such as “A Pound of Flesh”, “Within Your Eyes” and the extremely catchy “Bats in the Belfry”, groove-thrash juggernauts like “Wheelz” and “Play The Ace”, and a bunch of surprises, including “Loaded Rack” – sounding almost like a Metallica tune from “The Black Album”, “Keeper” – with Candlemass-style intro and “Old School” – the perfect tribute to 1980’s thrash metal (which also includes a short sample featuring the famous host of hard rock and heavy metal themed radio and TV shows – Eddie Trunk). The flawless production instantly makes this album one of the best-sounding releases on the modern thrash metal scene. “ReliXIV” is a worthy successor to “Killbox 13”, bringing yet another dose of Overkill’s prime musical taste. This is a must-have for any fan of diverse, but equally enjoyable thrash metal.

All three albums will be re-released in a new digipak edition each limited to 1000 copies. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process, released on a golden disc. The release date is scheduled for 2nd November.

I started compiling the following list of New releases for 2008. This may not be a complete list, but so much great new music has arrived in 2008, so far, I though it would be a good idea to keep a running tab of what has come out, and what is on the way. The releases through August have been confirmed. Releases with a question mark have not been confirmed yet. This list will be updated as more news arrives.

Overkill got into the heavy metal covers game, with their 1999 disc, Coverkill. I have heard this referred to many times, as Overkill’s Garage Days, as it was released the following year after Metallica’s cover disc.

This disc starts firing on all cylinders with a blistering live cut of the Motorhead song, Overkill.

There are three Black Sabbath cover tunes on this disc, Changes, Never Say Die, and Cornucopia. Bobby Ellsworth, handles Ozzy’s vocal parts with ease. I like all three cuts.

Tyrant is a cool Judas Priest song, but I don’t think Bobby Ellsworth can quite live up to Rob Halford’s vocals. It is a solid version, but not essential.

My favorite cuts on this disc are the Kiss cover, Deuce, and the remake of Jethro Tull’s Hymn 43.

Deuce

Hymn 43

Coverkill is a decent release by Overkill, and probably the most mainstream recording offered by the band. Coverkill isa solid cover disc, but it probably one that only the diehard Overkill fans will find essential to their collection.